standoffish

/ˌstændˈɒf.ɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌstændˈɑː.fɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /stand-ˈȯ-fish How to pronounce standoffish (audio)/ (ame, mw)

standoffish — adjective

  • standoffishpositive
  • more standoffishcomparative
  • most standoffishsuperlative

1. showing little warmth and keeping other people at a formal distance.

1.形容詞C1
釋義

showing little warmth and keeping other people at a formal distance.

例句

At the welcome lunch, Naoko seemed standoffish and answered every question with one short sentence.

seem standoffish in a first meeting

The coach's standoffish manner made new players afraid to ask for help after practice.

standoffish manner affecting others

同義詞
  • aloof

    suggests a cooler, more detached attitude

  • reserved

    can be milder and may simply mean not very expressive

  • distant

    focuses on lack of emotional closeness

  • cool

    often emphasizes a lack of warmth in tone or behavior

反義詞

文法句型

seem standoffish

come across as standoffish

a standoffish manner

用法筆記

Usually used for how a person seems to others in social situations, especially on a first meeting. Unlike shy, it often suggests distance or self-protection rather than simple nervousness.

常見錯誤

❌The math homework was standoffish.
✅The receptionist was standoffish.
💡use it for a person's manner, not for something that is merely difficult.